Storage ring with integral closure

ABSTRACT

A ring upon which a plurality of articles may be stored has an integral separable closure for adding or removing articles from the ring. The closure comprises a hollow socket at one end of the ring adapted to receive a plug on the other end of the ring, which plug has a pair of flexible lips defining a narrow slot leading to an enlarged recess. A locking rod extending through the socket has one dimension of a size to permit passage of the locking rod into the narrow slot, whereupon the locking rod may be rotated to an orientation in which the dimension of the locking rod adjacent the slot is greater than the width of the slot to prevent opening of the closure.

United States Patent 1 [111 3,881,334 Wilson [451 May 6, 1975 STORAGERING WITH INTEGRAL CLOSURE Primary ExaminerPaul R. Gilliam [76] lnvemor:110m 3:312;52:33: 5,1 3; gei iokes & Neilan [22] Filed: Jan. 3, 1974Appl. No.: 430,577

[57] ABSTRACT A ring upon which a plurality of articles may be storedhas an integral separable closure for adding or removing articles fromthe ring. The closure comprises a hollow socket at one end of the ringadapted to receive a plug on the other end of the ring, which plug has apair of flexible lips defining a narrow slot leading to an enlargedrecess. A locking rod extending through the socket has one dimension ofa size to permit passage of the locking rod into the narrow slot,whereupon the locking rod may be rotated to an orientation in which thedimension of the locking rod adjacent the slot is greater than the widthof the slot to prevent opening of the closure.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUHAY BIBYS 1.881.334

FIGZ

JLJF

STORAGE RING WITH INTEGRAL CLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thepresent invention relates to storage rings and to novel closures. Moreparticularly. the present invention is concerned with a novel quickrelease closure which may be utilized to join the ends of a Ilexiblering or the like to each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A particularly preferred embodiment of theinvention comprises a split ring of snythetic plastic material which hasan integral closure comprised of a socket at one end of the ring and aplug at the other end of the ring which may be secured within the socketto form a closed ring. The integral closure is inexpensive and may bereadily opened so that the plug and socket members may be pulled apart.for example. in order to add or remove articles from the ring.

The storage ring has numerous uses, for example. one presently preferreduse is to store flag belt equipment utilized in playing flag footballwhich equipment is of the type disclosed in my U.Sv Pat. No. 2,966,356.Another preferred use of the invention is to store combination locks innumerical sequence.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel.inexpensive storage ring and associated closure to permit ready openingof the storage ring.

Another principal object of the invention is to provide a novel closurefor securing two members together which closure is integral with themembers.

The above and other objects. features and advantages of the inventionwill become more apparent as this description proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of apresently preferred embodiment of the invention showing the storage ringin its closed position with a pair of belt elements stored thereon.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the storage ring per se showing theintegral closure in an open position.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the socket member of the closure showing alocking member extending through the socket.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the locking member rotated toanother orientation.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the locking member moved inthe direction ofthe arrow, i.e.. to the right.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the socket and plug portions of the closuredisposed as in FIG. 2 but on an enlarged scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings.reference numeral I0 generally designates a storage ring in accordancewith a presently preferred embodiment of the invention. The ring isactually a split ring made of a material such as a synthetic plasticwhich allows a plug I2 at one end of the ring to be inserted into andremoved from an integral socket 14 at the other end of the ring as willbe appreciated from the illustration in FIG. 2 which shows the plug andsocket spaced from each other in an open position.

When the closure is opened as in FIG. 2. articles to be stored such as apair of belts I6 (FIG. I) may be placed onto the belt by passing theplug I2 through holes in the belts 16.

As best seen in FIG. 6, plug I2 has a pair of opposed lips I8. 20 whichare spaced from each other to define a narrow slot which leads to anenlarged arcuate recess 22 within the plug. The lips I8 and 20 are madeof a plastic material or the like and have limited flexibility towardsand away from each other when pressure is applied to the lips.

In order to close the ring. plug I2 is inserted into an axial bore 24 insocket 14. The outer surfaces of lips 18 and 20 are curved to facilitatethis insertion.

A locking rod 26 extends transversely through socket 14. The portion oflocking rod occupying most of the distance across bore 24 is of agenerally rectangular configuration having narrow sides 28 and widersides 30. Since the remainder of the locking rod is cylindrical. it maybe rotated by handle 32.

When the handle 32 is disposed vertically as seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6,that is. at right angles to the central axis of bore 24; the locking rodis oriented so that one of the smaller sides 28 is facing the openinginto bore 24 as seen in FIG. 3. With the locking rod in thisorientation, when plug I2 is inserted into bore 24. the lips I8 and 20maybe forced past the locking rod 26. When lips I8, 20 are forced pastthe locking rod. the locking rod is received within the enlarged recess22. Recess 24 has a diameter somewhat larger than the width of sides 30of the locking rod.

In order to restrain plug 12 within socket I4. handle 32 is now rotatedthrough so that one of the wider sides 30 of the central portion of thelocking rod faces the opening to bore 24. This orientation of thelocking rod is illustrated in FIG. 4 in which for the sake of clarityplug I2 is not shown. Since the width of side 30 is greater than thedistance between lips [23 and 20. inadvertent removal of plug 12 fromthe socket is prevented.

The length of the locking rod between handle 32 at one end and aretainer such as a spring clip 34 on the other end permits limitedreciprocating movement of the locking rod. In order to prevent rotationof locking rod 26 out of the position in which it secures plug 12 in thesocket; handle 32 is depressed pushing the locking rod to the right fromthe FIG. 4 position to the FIG. 5 position at which point a small latchmember or detent 36 on handle 32 is seated within an aperture 38 in theouter wall of socket 14. With the latch member 36 seated in recess 38,the locking rod 26 cannot be rotated to the FIG. 3 position. that is, aposition in which the smaller side 28 is in alignment with the slotbetween lips I8. 20. Accordingly. inadvertent movement of handle 32 to aposition in which the plug 12 may be disengaged from the socket isprevented.

When it is desired to open the ring, the locking rod 26 is moved in theopposite direction back to the FIG. 4 position whereupon the rod may berotated to the FIG. 3 position which allows the plug to be withdrawnfrom the socket.

While a presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been shownand described with particularity. it will be appreciated that theinvention is susccptible of many modifications which may readily suggestthemselves to those of ordinary skill in the art upon being apprised ofthe present invention. For example. the storage member could take otherconfigurations than that of a ring. other objects in lieu of the beltsl6 might be stored upon the ring. and in some applications the ringmight find utility for other purposes than storing articles.Accordingly. it is intended to encompass all such changes andmodifications as fall within the scope and spirit of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus comprising a unitary flexible member having first andsecond ends and closure means detachahly connecting said ends saidclosure means comprising a hollow socket on one of said ends and a plugon the other of said ends, said plug having a pair of lips delining anarrow slot, an enlarged recess provided in said plug in communicationwith said slot. said socket having a bore for the reception of saidplug. a locking rod extending transversely across said bore and in oneposition thereof being configured to pass through said slot into saidrecess in said plug means to enable rotation of said locking rod to aposition preventing removal of said rod from said recess, said lockingrod extending outwardly from two sides of the exterior periphery of saidsocket. whereby said locking rod can move perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the bore in said socket to a position preventingrotation of said locking rod. and a latch to maintain said locking rodin said position preventing rotation of said locking rod 2. Apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising a handle connected to one endof said locking rod externally of said socket.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said latch is on said handle,and a recess provided in said socket for receiving said latch to preventmovement of said locking rod.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said unitary member comprisesa storage ring.

1. Apparatus comprising a unitary flexible member having first andsecond ends and closure means detachably connecting said ends, saidclosure means comprising a hollow socket on one of said ends and a plugon the other of said ends, said plug having a pair of lips defining anarrow slot, an enlarged recess provided in said plug in communicationwith said slot, said socket having a bore for the reception of saidplug, a locking rod extending transversely across said bore and in oneposition thereof being configured to pass through said slot into saidrecess in said plug, means to enable rotation of said locking rod to aposition preventing removal of said rod from said recess, said lockingrod extending outwardly from two sides of the exterior periphery of saidsocket, whereby said locking rod can move perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the bore in said socket to a position preventingrotation of said locking rod, and a latch to maintain said locking rodin said position preventing rotation of said locking rod.
 2. Apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising a handle connected to one endof said locking rod externally of said socket.
 3. Apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein said latch is on said handle, and a recess provided insaid socket for receiving said latch to prevent movement of said lockingrod.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said unitary membercomprises a storage ring.